Volume & Surface Area by Stephanie, Brooke, Michele
Washington Mathematics Standards Grade 7: 7.3.A Determine the surface area and volume of cylinders using the appropriate formulas and explain why the formulas work. 7.3.B Determine the volume of pyramids and cones using formulas.
Object of game: To recall and apply formulas for surface area and volume.
Players: May be played by teams or individuals.
Synopsis: This card game uses familiar shapes and specific questions to aid in student recall of geometric formulas for finding volume and surface area. Game may be played in groups, one on one, or used as an independent flash card study system.
Guidelines: Game consists of a deck of 24 cards, timer or stopwatch, and formula sheet. On the deck of cards are different shapes with a few dimensions and a question. Players will use dimensions given and necessary formula (which they will recall from memory or ask the Mediator) to find answers such as what is the volume or surface area or area of the shape pictured. Players may use paper, pencil, calculator to find answers. Team players may confer with one another during the game in order to find the answers together.
Mediator: Is in charge of the Formula Sheet during the game, the answer sheet, and timing each problem solving activity. Each turn by a player or team is timed by Mediator. If a player chooses to ask Mediator for the needed formula, five seconds are added to time for that problem. Ideally, the mediator should be a student rather than the teacher.
Play: To determine who goes first: Mediator will think of a number between one and ten and players will choose a number. Whoever is closest to the Mediator’s number will go first. Player: Choose top card from stack. Make a choice as soon as the card is viewed of ‘solve’ or ‘formula’. If player says ‘solve’, the Mediator begins timing the problem at that second. If the player says ‘formula’, then the Mediator will share the formula with the player asking. Right after the formula has been given, the Mediator will start timing the problem. Player(s) will apply formula to given information on card, such as dimensions, to find answer. When the answer has been determined, player will say ‘complete’. The Mediator will stop the timer, and record the time and answer on a score sheet. After all of the cards are picked up, the score sheets will be tallied. Times will be added. Answers will be checked against the answer sheet, which the Mediator is in charge of. If the answer is incorrect, twenty seconds will be added to the time for that problem. The player or team with the lowest total time for the game is the winner. Click here to download game cards:
Differentiation: Remedial: Game cards can be used like flashcards to help students identify shapes - especially the difference between two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes. Game can be played using only the cards that give all of the dimensions and ask for the application of a formula. Advanced: Game cards can be combined so that students have to determine the surface area or volume of a composite shape (e.g.: cone with a cylinder base) ELL: The game cards have pictures and numbers that are helpful for ELL students who are learning English mathematical terms Resource: Game can be played by teams so that students work together to derive the formulas and apply them.
Formula Fun
Volume & Surface Area by Stephanie, Brooke, Michele
Washington Mathematics Standards Grade 7:
7.3.A Determine the surface area and volume of cylinders using the appropriate formulas and explain why the formulas work.
7.3.B Determine the volume of pyramids and cones using formulas.
Object of game: To recall and apply formulas for surface area and volume.
Players: May be played by teams or individuals.
Synopsis: This card game uses familiar shapes and specific questions to aid in student recall of geometric formulas for finding volume and surface area. Game may be played in groups, one on one, or used as an independent flash card study system.
Guidelines: Game consists of a deck of 24 cards, timer or stopwatch, and formula sheet. On the deck of cards are different shapes with a few dimensions and a question. Players will use dimensions given and necessary formula (which they will recall from memory or ask the Mediator) to find answers such as what is the volume or surface area or area of the shape pictured.
Players may use paper, pencil, calculator to find answers. Team players may confer with one another during the game in order to find the answers together.
Mediator: Is in charge of the Formula Sheet during the game, the answer sheet, and timing each problem solving activity. Each turn by a player or team is timed by Mediator. If a player chooses to ask Mediator for the needed formula, five seconds are added to time for that problem. Ideally, the mediator should be a student rather than the teacher.
Play: To determine who goes first: Mediator will think of a number between one and ten and players will choose a number. Whoever is closest to the Mediator’s number will go first.
Player: Choose top card from stack. Make a choice as soon as the card is viewed of ‘solve’ or ‘formula’. If player says ‘solve’, the Mediator begins timing the problem at that second. If the player says ‘formula’, then the Mediator will share the formula with the player asking. Right after the formula has been given, the Mediator will start timing the problem.
Player(s) will apply formula to given information on card, such as dimensions, to find answer. When the answer has been determined, player will say ‘complete’. The Mediator will stop the timer, and record the time and answer on a score sheet.
After all of the cards are picked up, the score sheets will be tallied. Times will be added. Answers will be checked against the answer sheet, which the Mediator is in charge of. If the answer is incorrect, twenty seconds will be added to the time for that problem. The player or team with the lowest total time for the game is the winner. Click here to download game cards:
Differentiation:
Remedial: Game cards can be used like flashcards to help students identify shapes - especially the difference between two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes.
Game can be played using only the cards that give all of the dimensions and ask for the application of a formula.
Advanced: Game cards can be combined so that students have to determine the surface area or volume of a composite shape (e.g.: cone with a cylinder base)
ELL: The game cards have pictures and numbers that are helpful for ELL students who are learning English mathematical terms
Resource: Game can be played by teams so that students work together to derive the formulas and apply them.